The residents of Sumac Avenue agree with the City of Boulder on one thing: Their street needs work. It hasn’t been paved in decades and is riddled with potholes. When the city proposed repairs in 2019, many welcomed the prospect of a smoother road.
That changed in 2025, when residents learned the city wanted them to help pay for the project — in many cases, tens of thousands of dollars. Resident John Kelly said his estimated assessment exceeded $100,000. More recent city projections suggest assessments may now be capped at $90,000.
“Some of my neighbors have been here since the 70s and 80s, and they’re retired, and they’re scared to death,” Kelly said. “When they got that notice, they were crying.”…